Take Action on The Social Services Block Grant

Senator Voinovich:

As you may already know, Social Services Block Grant (SSBG) funds a range of social services for children, families, the elderly, and the disabled, and makes up 12% of all federal child welfare spending. Services funded by SSBG dollars include child abuse prevention, foster care, child care, and adoption assistance. In FY 2004, 38 states used almost $200 million in SSBG funding to provide child protective services to over one million children. In that same year, 37 states used $332 million in SSBG funds for foster care services provided to more than 542,000 children.

Despite the many critical services that SSBG makes possible, funding for the block grant has been chipped away over the past decade. From a high of $2.8 billion a year, its now decreased to its current authorized level of only $1.7 billion a year! States, such as Ohio, are finding it increasingly difficult to make up for these cuts. The President’s budget request for FY 2007 proposed a $500 MILLION cut to the programs! If enacted, this 30% cut will result in the reduction OR elimination of critical services and programs in our state.

The U.S. House Appropriations Committee rejected this proposed cut to SSBG. I'm asking your help to ensure that the U.S. Senate does the same. Please, Senator Voinovich, support the SSBG to be fully funded, with the Social Services Block Grant remaining at $1.7 billion- for our states basic necessities - in the FY 2007 - for the Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education (Labor-HHS) appropriations bill.

Sincerely,

Joanna Stoane

Take Action on the Social Services Block Grant

Urge Your U.S. Senators to Protect the Social Services Block Grant

The Social Services Block Grant (SSBG) funds a range of social services for children, families, the elderly, and the disabled, and makes up 12% of all federal child welfare spending. Services funded by SSBG dollars include child abuse prevention, foster care, child care, and adoption assistance. In FY 2004, 38 states used almost $200 million in SSBG funding to provide child protective services to over one million children. In that same year, 37 states used $332 million in SSBG funds for foster care services provided to more than 542,000 children.

Despite the many critical services that SSBG makes possible, funding for the block grant has been chipped away over the past decade from a high of $2.8 billion a year to its current authorized level of $1.7 billion a year. States are finding it increasingly difficult to make up for these cuts. The President’s budget request for FY 2007 proposed a $500 million cut to the programs. If enacted, this 30% cut will result in the reduction or elimination of critical services and programs.

The U.S. House Appropriations Committee rejected this proposed cut to SSBG. We need your help to ensure that the U.S. Senate does the same. Please urge your U.S. Senators to fully fund the Social Services Block Grant at $1.7 billion in the FY 2007 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education (Labor-HHS) appropriations bill.

TAKE ACTION NOW!! Contact your Senators TODAY!